January 2024

Happy New Year!  The start of a new year is an opportunity to commit to new healthy lifestyle choices and habits.  If you need to lose a little weight, consider that riding a bike burns 300 to 600 calories per hour for most people depending on how strenuous you ride.

In this month’s Newsletter:

• We take a look back at what FCBC accomplished in 2023.

• The next Bike Station Fix Your Own Bike Event is on Saturday, January 20 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Tower District.

• The results of the FCBC Board elections are announced.

• The next FCBC member/board meeting is on Thursday, January 25 at 6:30 pm.

A Look Back at 2023

Last year was extremely busy for FCBC, as things got back to normal post-pandemic.  Here are some of the highlights:

• The BIke Station held monthly events, sometimes more often, helping get hundreds of bikes fixed but also assembling new kids bikes and refurbishing bikes to be given away at events.

• In April, FCBC organized a family safety education bicycle event in Fowler.

• During Bike Month in May, FCBC collaborated with the City of Fresno Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) to put on the first-ever Ride with the Mayor event, in place of the traditional Mall to Mall or Mall to Hall Ride.  On Bike to Work Day, FCBC set up an energy station at the customary location at the Tower Theater.

• In June, four FCBC Board members who are League Cycling Instructors provided support for an LCI Seminar in Visalia in which 12 new LCIs received their certification.

• Several FCBC Board members assisted the Fresno State Transportation Institute (FSTI) with putting on a one-week bike camp in August for middle school students from Madera County.

• October was an especially busy month, with FCBC partnering with the Reedley Lion’s Club for a Reedley Community Bicycle Event that included a bike rodeo, The Bike Station, and kids bike giveaway.  The international PEDAL Summit 2023 successfully came together after months of planning, with FCBC Board members Tony Molina and Edna Pedroza having critical roles in the planning and execution of the event.  FCBC helped with the activities, including bike rides that were held the following two days.

• Bike Prom made a grand return in November after a four-year absence.

• The traditional holiday lights ride returned with a ride down historic Huntington Boulevard.  The holiday lights turned out to be a little thin, but it was still a festive ride.

The Bike Station

Last month, rather than having a typical Fix Your Own Bike (FYOB) event, The Bike Stationdistributed care packages with essentials to the unhoused around the Tower District and Roeding Park on December 17.

The next FYOB bike clinic event is scheduled for Saturday, January 20 between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm at the Van Ness Village Vendor Fair, located at 1440 N. Van Ness Avenue.  The Bike Station is sponsored by FCBC and allows bike owners to learn how to repair their own bikes with help from experienced mechanics, including FCBC member Julie Congi and Tower Velo owner Chris Eacock.

Upcoming Event:  Millbrook Mobile Home Village

FCBC is partnering with Teens That Care and SPARC to put on a kids bike rodeo at Millbrook Mobile Home Village near Millbrook and Shields Avenues on Saturday, February 10 from 9:30 amm to 11:30 am.  Bike repair will be provided, and bikes will also be donated to kids without bikes.  Volunteers are welcome to attend, and the signup can be found here.

FCBC Board Election Results

Board elections were held last month, and reelected in their positions were Tony Molina as Board Chair, Edie Smith as Secretary, Edna Pedroza as Membership Coordinator, and John Liu and Thor Smith as At Large Directors.  In newly elected positions are Julie Congi as Vice Chair and Jeremy Doyel as Treasurer.  New to the Board as an At Large Director is Kyle Calvert, a familiar face at The Bike Station.  Many thanks to Jack Nelson for his many years of service as Treasurer.

The FCBC Board will be meeting on January 21 for the Annual Strategic Planning Meeting/Board Retreat.  The Board will be setting the direction and planning the activities for the coming year.  Discussions will include group rides, Bike Month, educational and advocacy efforts, The Bike Station, and the budget.  A summary of the meeting will be provided in the Newsletter next month. 

Next FCBC Member/Board Meeting

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 25 at 6:30 pm via Zoom.  Everyone is welcome to join the virtual meeting.  If you would like to participate in the meeting, register here, and you will immediately get the Zoom link.

Membership

If you are not yet a member of FCBC or need to renew, please visit https://fresnobike.org/join to become a member or renew your membership.